Morning yall,

So in the past week I've been dealing with a new problem with my 1994 5.2L. Up until a week ago it has been a good running truck, no issues starting up and going ever. Last Friday I drove it to work and the whole way there it was "bucking" and felt like it was going to die and even stalled out at a red light. Then after work I went to start it and it kept cranking but would not start. Since I was at work I had to have it towed and just decided to have a mechanic look at it.

They claimed they could not find what the problem was and that it just started running again so I just went to pick it up and drove it home. Later that day same problem, crank but no start.

I sprayed some starter fluid into the throttle body and that got it to fire up a little. Yesterday it started up and ran and I tested the fuel pressure: 38PSI while running. I believe it is supposed to be around 50? While it was running it would occasionally sound like it was about to die, the revs would drop and then kick back up to a regular idle.

Spark plugs are new and it does not seem like the engine is misfiring. About two weeks ago I ran some cleaners through my fuel to pass my emissions test. Could this be an issue possibly? Or is this the fault of the fuel pump?


Thanks in advanced for your help!

edit: I should add that before this I had issues with it stalling. When it was put into reverse and I give it gas out of the drive way up-hill it sometimes would stall. Also once when I put it in drive to pull out of a parking spot I backed into it stalled on me. Possible vacuum leak? Could these be related?

 

Plenum been fixed yet?

It seems you have spark when it doesn't wanna start... is the CEL on? Getting any codes?

Welcome to DF!

 

Not sure about the plenum. I have only owned the truck a few weeks. I'd wager to guess that it has not. The PO seems to have kept repairs to a minimum. Any good ways of diagnosing a bad plenum?

No check engine light on. No codes. However it is OBDI so its really a crap-shoot.

 

You can do the key dance to see if there are any stored codes. Cycle the key On-Off-On-Off-On, then count the flashes. (two digit codes)

Take a look down the throttle body, see any oil in there?

 

What am I looking at to flash? The CEL? I'll try that when I get home. Anything else I should look for that would explain my low Fuel Pressure and starting issues?

Thanks

 

Yeah, the cel will flash codes.

I don't know that your fuel pressure is all that low. On the OBDI trucks, I think pressure was supposed to be right around 40???? Don't recall the exact number.

Need to see if the PCM has any complaints. That may or may not be enlightening. At this point, could be any number of things.

How do your plug wires, etc, look? Any idea last time they were changed?

 

Alright, I pulled my codes:

12 - Battery Disconnect

37 - Torque converter clutch solenoid or trans temp sensor too high or low.

54 - No cam sync signal at PCM (I think we have a winner!)


Am i right in assuming that I'm going to need a new camshaft position sensor? I feel like that code 37 might be a result of my aux trans cooler.

I got the explenations for the codes from dodgeram.info/Engine-Gas/OBDI/pcm_fault_code.htm

 

I think replacing the cam position sensor is most certainly a place to start. It's under the distributor cap, so, not the easiest to get to..... (I think they still call it a pick-up coil, even though it has nothing to do with ignition....)

37 is likely one you can just ignore, if the trans seems to be working properly. You may or may not even HAVE a temp sensor. If you do, it is on the outlet line from the trans, right up close to the bellhousing, on the cooler line right there. (external sensor.)